Gripping device



Nov. 27, j F. J. BEECH 2,389,756

' "GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1943 INVE TOR Fred eech aGlMt A ORNEYPatented Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE The present inventionrelates broadly to gripping devices, and in its specific phases to adevice for ripping the handle of a brush and suspending the latter inmanner permitting the bristles oi. the brush to be immersed in asuitable fluid body.

The common present day practice, which is almost universally carried onin connection with paint brushes during periods between use, is to standthe brushes up in a pail or the like with the bristles immersed in asuitable fluid such as paint, oil, or water. Where the brushes stored inthis manner are unsupported, the bristles in a short time assume apermanent sidewise bent position. To avoid this bristle distortionprofessional painters commonly wrap the bristles and body of the usedbrush in strong paper and then immerse the bristles in upright positionin a suitable fiuid which is normally paint or oil. These dimculties andinconveniences have led to a few attempts to provide suspendingmechanisms for brushes. Such suspending mechanisms have been verycommonly of the pinch clamp" type which rips one edge of the paint pailand supports a single brush. More complex brush holders have also beendevised wherein pivoted toggle joints, et cetera, are involved. Thoselatter devices, however, normally do not permit adjustment of i the gipped brush to difierent elevations and degree of immersion. Thoseshortcomings, difliculties, and inconveniences of the prior art led tothe discovery and development of the present invention.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provisionof a simple and readily constructed, low cost, apparatus for suspendingbrushes or the like from the upper edge of a paint pail, or othersuitable container.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which will grip either fiat,oval, or round-handle brushes, and will grip not only one brush butseveral brushes under suitable conditions.

Another object is to provide a brush holding device which will readilygrip brush handles of diiferent sizes.

A further object is to provide a brush holding device of stableconstruction with a stop at each end for holding the device fromslipping into the pail or container with which it is used.

A further object is to provide a brush holding device with elongatedresilient side members anchored together adjacent the ends thereof.

A still further object is to provide a brush holding device which restsfreely on the top of the container in which the brushes are to besuspended,

is easy to remove, and permits read! brush adbut one of various ways inwhich the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paint pail or the like with aportion of same broken away to show a brush suspended therein by meansof a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of one form of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the brush holding device shown in Figure 2. I

Referring more particularly to Figure l of the drawing, a paint pail lcontaining paint 2 has been illustrated with a paint brush 3 suspendedtherein with the bristles of the brush extending into the paint. Themeans for suspending the paint brush is a gripping device 4 which hasresilient side members 5 and 6. These side members may be made ofrelatively thin resilient strips of wood, spring steel, or othersuitable material spaced apart by means of stop members I and 8. Theedges of these side members are preferably rounded to facilitate theinsertion of a brush therebetween. Stop members 1 and 8 are normally alittle thinner than the thicknes of a brush handle and preferably extendboth above and below side members 5 and 6. Thicker stop members may beused where the side members bow inward to provide the gripping action,and the drawing is intended to diagrammatically illustrate these varioustypes of equivalent construction. The extending ends of these members 1and 8 act as stops which permit the assembly to be used either side up,and at the same time prevent the assembly from readily sliding acrossand into the paint pail I under conditions of use. Side members 5 and 6may be fastened to stop members I and 8 by means of rivets 9, Figure 1,or by any other suitable means such as cording in, Figures 2 and 3. Bymaking stop members I and 8 thinner than the paint brush handle II, agripping force is exerted on the brush handle by members 5 and 6so as tohold the brush 3 at various elevations. depending upon how far the brushhandle II is forced through between side members 5 and B.

The holding of a single brush has been illustrated in Figure 1, but itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to a deviceforholding a Single brush; but rather to one for holding one or morebrushes within limitation of the brush handle thicknesse and resiliencyof side members 5 and- 6. It is intended that the showing of thesuspended brush shall be diagrammatic of one or more brushes suspendedbetween side members 5 and 6 in like manner.

In actual use, the brush holding device has the handle H of a brushforced upward therebetween, following which the assembly is placed onthe top of a paint pail, as shown in Figure 1, and the handle of thebrush forced down until the bristles are suitably immersed in the liquidcontained by the pail. With the brush suspended in this manner, it isno'longer necessary for the bristles of the brush to rest on the bottomof the pail, and accordingly, the bending Over difficulties encounteredwith present-day practice are avoided. When it comes time to use thebrush again, it is only necessary to lift the whole assembly from thepail and slide the brush downward from between side members Sand 6,which thus leaves the brush free for use and places the gripping devicein condition for laying aside until use of same, is once more required.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one disclosed, change being made as regards the articletherein disclosed, provided the means stated b any or the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described. a pair of elongated andresilient side members, a pair of stop members, one at each end of saidside members and between same, means for anchoring said side members tosaid stop members,

said stop members extending sidewise from between said side members atleast on" one side thereof.

2. A gripping device which comprises a pair of substantially flatelongated and resilient side members, at least the inner top and bottomedges of said side members being rounded, a pair of stop members, oneadjacent each'end of said side members and between same, means foranchoring said side members to said stop members, said stop membersextending sidewise from between said side members on both sides thereof.

3. A brush holding apparatus which consists of a pair of substantiallyflat elongated and resilient side members, two stop members, oneadjacent each end of said side members and between same, rivets forfastening said side members to said step members, said stop membersextending sidewise from between said side members on both sides thereof.

4. A brush holding apparatus which consists of a pair of substantiallyfiat elongated and resilient side members, two stop members, oneadjacent each end of said side members and between same, cords forbinding said side members to said stop members, said stop membersextending sidewise from between said side members on both sides thereof.

5. A brush holding apparatus which consists of a pair of resilient,elongated, substantially flat and straight wooden side members havingrounded inner edges, two stop members, said stop members having roundededges, and means for fastening said stop members to said side membersbetween and adjacent the ends thereof, said stop members being longerthan the width of the side members and extending substantially an equaldistance beyond the opposite edges thereof, whereby the rounded edgesand projecting ends of said stop members facilitate the use of theassembly on the top of various sizes of containers within the limits ofthe length of the assembly.

FRED J. BEECH.

